Summer 2010: Seaworld

We had a wonderful family day at Seaworld. We got there when they opened and stayed until closing time.  



Yes, we are the YELLOW family again. I told the kids maybe this was the last time we dress in the same color but to my surprise they enjoy it... so ... the tradition continues.

We enjoy all of the shows at Seaworld but I think by far our MOST favorite is the Cirque' De La Mer. 



Summer 2010: Beaches, Pools and Water Parks.

The Summer of 2010, in San Diego, went down in the history books as the COLDest summer EVER. We were lucky enough to catch some nice warm days in between all the GLOOM.

We enjoy the POOL on Camp Pendleton alot. The kids love the diving board and slide.

                               We also enjoyed a beautiful day at the WILD RIVERS water park. Kalea was so excited that she was tall enough to go on most of the slides. She is an adventurous little girl.

And of course we LOVE every chance we get to enjoy our local beach (less than a mile from our home).

 This summer Kalea learned to BOOGIE board. She is the cutest little California girl.

Also, this summer Brandon learned to SURF on his own. He can not get enough of it.

The kiddos continue to grow by leaps and bounds.... 

No. Wait. What??? it has been 7 months since my last blog?!!?

  WoW... Let me try to pick up where I left off...

February 5th - April 5th is BiRtHdAy season in our family. It begins with mine on the 5th of February (see last post from 7 months ago), Our wedding anniversary on Valentine's Day, March 5th belongs to Brandon, March 17th (St.Patrick's Day) is Kalea's Day and it ends with our Joe Joe Bean on April 5th. 

Brandon turned 12. We (me, Brandon and my good friend, Diana)  ran in the Race for Literacy 8K at Balboa park in San Diego. It doesn't rain much here in Southern California but decided to start pouring on us as the minute the race began and we were drenched at the end. It was still a BLAST!!

Kalea Sue turned 7 and is our LUCKY charm... she was born on St.Patrick's Day.
She wanted to celebrate with her family at Shakey's pizza.

 

Our family favorite restaurant is Applebee's and that's where Joseph decided he wanted his family birthday celebration. He turned 9. He is named after my Daddy, Joseph Rickard (pictured above).

Stayed tuned for another update... soon ... if your lucky. :)



Momma... turns 4-1.

Let BiRtHdAy season begin.... It starts with my birthday on the 5th of February and will include the birthdays of all our kiddos ending on April 5th.  My wonderful hubby treated me to birthday lunch at Joe's crab shack.

Then we spent the evening at home as a  family that included pizza and making ice cream sundeas. 

 

The kids made me a card. They are so thoughtful and supportive of my running. They got me a Nike band. It will  measure my distance, time, pace, and calories. I also got a pair of running shorts and some pretty cool socks. The best gift of all... is always the LOVE of my family.

HELLO... Twenty Ten... it's gonna be a good year!!!

I am such a ROOKIE at this whole race thing. The race series I had wanted to do this year was the California Dreamin' Series (Huntington, San Fran, & Long Beach). I had no idea how fast races SOLD OUT so I was bummed when I didn't get into my first one at Huntington. So I began my search for another race and found the Lajolla Half (April 25th) and immediately got myself signed up. Then 2 weeks ago my friend Susie told me of her friend that was running the Carlsbad with her but was now moving and couldn't do it. So with a 2 WEEKS NOTICE I agreed to RUN with her....our goal was completion NOT speed.

When the race began it was in the mid forties but warmed up to be a most beautiful day. The run itself was a scenic route mostly along the coast line.

There is nothing better than the LOVE of a family. I couldn't do anything without them.

WE DID IT!!  We completed our very FIRST half marathon... TOGETHER... 13.1 MILES!! Around the 8th mile Susie's knee started to bother her but we stayed TOGETHER ... AND we finished right under 3 hours (2:54). Not too bad for ROOKIES!!

I am looking forward to running at least two more half marathons this year.. the Lajolla Half (April 25) and America's Finest City Half (August 15). I am also looking forward to having Susie as my race partner.... This is surely the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Buffalo Alley 10K

Saturday, November 7th, 2009
Buffalo Alley 10K on Camp Pendleton... this race benefits the fallen and wounded soldiers. God bless the U.S.A.
www.camppendletonraces.com

The LOVE and SUPPORT of my family means everything to me!!

Addie (my running buddy) and me at the starting line.

This course is a tough one. It is ALL hills (mountains) and between the elevation and the cold weather I had an asthma attack within the first mile. I took my inhaler and convinced Addie to go ahead without me. I managed to keep moving and recovered by mile 3. Whew!

Addie finished 13 minutes ahead of me (PROUD of her) and came back to get me... now that's a great racing buddy! I felt so accomplished after completing this race and I mean to tell you that this course was UP hill BOTH ways!!!
 I am now training to RuN my first HALF marathon in February 2010. http://www.caldreaminracing.com/

Have I done any good lately?

YES... We DiD do GooD!! RACE for the CURE... 5k at Balboa park!

 

We RaN with a purpose. Cancer is NO good... no matter what kind it is!!! We CHOOSE to do this for those that have battled cancer and lost their fight...AND... for those still fighting the fight!

 

Me and my runnin' buddies, Addie and Diana. They are AMAZING! Thank you girls for such a memorable experience... See ya next year!!

 

 

It was amazing to see my family receive us at the finish line... especially little Miss Kalea Sue... SHE inspires me everyday to DO better... to BE better!!

MY SISTER... MY FRIEND...

My sister and her family came for a visit... leaving my niece and nephew to enjoy the rest of their summer with us. It was so wonderful to see Becky Jo. We talk everyday on the phone but I had not seen her in person in over 4 years!!

 

Me, Becky Jo and Paige (my niece) at the beach in Oceanside.

 

Becky Jo, Daddy and Me... We love our Daddy!!

 

Me and my sister... enjoying the sunset.

 

Becky Jo, Daryl, Paige and Zach... on the Oceanside pier.

SuRpRiSe... DADDY'S HOME!!!

Jeff's home... 7 weeks early!! Yippee!!

 

When Jeff told me he was coming home early... we decided to SURPRISE the kids. So I had to keep my excitement contained all alone for about 4 days. Then on Sunday (April 19) I took the kids to my Dad's house in LaJolla. When we came back, my dad had the kids across the street on the grounds of the San Diego temple. As we approached Brandon could see I was walking with someone but couldn't make out who it was... it was Kalea that instantly yelled "DADDY" and began to run towards us... the boys were right behind her. I think they were all in complete SHOCK!!

 

We are grateful for Jeff's service to our country and for his safe return home.

 

11...6...8...

 

March 5th, 2009: Brandon turned 11. He has been nicknamed "ACE" because he is our number one child (by order of birth). He looks like a gangsta with his new "VANS" hoodie and his wade of cash! Brandon plays as first baseman and pitcher for the Royals with the Oceanside Little League. He is a skateboarder and a complete California "Dude".

 

March 17th, 2009: Miss Kalea Sue turned 6. She has a SPUNK for life and a LOVE for everyone. She loves to be all GIRLIE but she will not be out done by her brothers... she is gearing up to play soccer soon.

 

April 5th, 2009: Our Joejoe Bean (as we have affectionately called him since his birth) turned 8. He, too plays on the Royals team with his big brother(and probably the only time that will happen). Joejoe is an outfielder and has caught his share of balls. He is getting excited to be baptized (when his daddy returns from Iraq that is). He is a builder... he has real talent when it comes to building with Legos. He loves transformers, too. Joejoe is ALL BOY and has a CURIOSITY for everything and an ENDLESS amount of energy!!

This is our LIFE... in the MILITARY.

Our kids are little troopers I tell ya... heads up and proud of their daddy as he heads off to Iraq (again).
Brandon says he will be the man of the house and gets a trail run on using daddy's cell phone while he's gone (to prove he is a big boy now). Joseph says he will listen and obey. AND little Miss Kalea Sue, with tears in her pretty blue eyes says she will take care of us all (Nami, Brandon, Joseph, Grandaddy Rickard and Mommy). She too promises to be a good girl.




As for me... goodbyes never get any easier... but I am proud... very proud of my hubby!!! This is... our life... in the military.

NO MORE ... training wheels

 

 

 

Jeff took Kalea's training wheels off this week. It has only taken him 2 days to teach her to ride without them. Jeff is AMAZING... he has a special technique in teaching them so fast.